VILLAGERS in Addingham have agreed to bombard the authorities with complaints about the lack of law and order in the village.

At the annual village meeting, Addingham was described by one resident as a 'police-free zone' where criminals can operate at will.

Local beat officer WPC Sheila Kirkham was subjected to a

barrage of complaints from the villagers but they reserved their venom for her bosses.

Parish councillor Alan Jerome said to WPC Kirkham: "Your senior officers are not interested in the public, I am sorry to say it. All they are talking about is the amount of money it costs and how to save money. They are not user-friendly at all."

In a packed room in the Memorial Hall, Main Street,

villagers spoke of their fears of burglary, vandalism and abuse from youngsters who congregate in the Memorial Hall car park.

One said: "The police are totally inadequate and disgraceful. I was goaded by five youths who shouted abuse at me."

He added that the youths then proceeded to run over four cars parked outside The Sailor public house.

"I rang the police and got Wakefield - I did not want Wakefield, I wanted Ilkley."

Another resident said that vandals from outside the area were aware of the shortage of police officers in the village and that is what attracted them.

Some of the local youths who used the Memorial Hall car park attended the meeting to explain their views.

Everyone agreed that the

problems were caused by youths from outside the area and there were discussions about creating a drop-in centre for village youngsters to congregate.

One resident described what she called 'mindless vandalism' at different sites around the village including a gate which was set on fire.

"Nothing seems to be being done about it - the village is being wrecked," she said.

Parish councillor Bill Preston said: "I don't think there is a woman in this room who would walk through the car park at night."

WPC Kirkham explained to residents that her duties also included Menston and Burley-in-Wharfedale.

WPC Kirkham said: "If I get involved in any crime that happens in the town centre I have to deal with that as well. It sounds like you have a local beat officer but you haven't. It is very difficult, I know you like to see a police officer on the beat but I can only be in one place at a time - I am only human - that is whey you don't see me walking around Addingham as often as you would like."

What villagers see as a recent crime wave in the village was described as a 'blip' by WPC Kirkham who said that overall crime figures were showing a downward trend.

Parish councillors agreed last month to make policing the village a priority for their future discussions. They have now agreed to send a resolution from the whole village to senior police officers, Home Secretary Jack Straw, Ilkley MP Ann Cryer and the police authority in a bid for more protection from criminals.

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